All trips will have coordination information posted prior to the activity with contact info on the Club Meetup page (Meetup registration required to view). Scroll down and click “More Meetups” to see all posted trips. Note that a few trips require more advance commitment due to ferry or lodging reservations needed. Participants are responsible for having appropriate equipment and ability. Nonmembers must sign a Club waiver prior to participation. No club dues required for participation.

Wearing a properly fastened life jacket is mandatory while on the water during all Club activities.

All trips will have coordination information posted prior to the activity with contact info on the Club Meetup page (Meetup registration required to view). Scroll down and click “More Meetups” to see all posted trips. Note that a few trips require more advance commitment due to ferry or lodging reservations needed. Participants are responsible for having appropriate equipment and ability. Nonmembers must sign a Club waiver prior to participation. No club dues required for participation.

Wearing a properly fastened life jacket is mandatory while on the water during all Club activities.

I wanted to share the written version of the remarks introducing Nancy Anderson as this year’s Woodruff Award winner.

My remarks:

Thank you Michael Doty, our Hugh Heward Challenge chair this year!

​​

And thank you to our sponsors and inspirations for so many years here at the annual Hugh Heward Challenge, the Verlen Kruger Memorial Committee, along with all their family members, that not only shared their loved ones with the work, but jumped in did the work alongside them. And still do.

Last year I was so thrilled when Stacy Smith and the others involved in making the Hugh Heward a success announced they had created an award in my father’s name, specifically to honor those in the paddling community who work behind the scenes to make things like the Hugh, the Quiet Water Symposium, and the Verlen Kruger Memorial possible.

This year’s winner has done all three, and many more. But unless you knew this person yourself, you might never pick them out of a crowd as one of the movers and shakers.

That’s what it means to work behind the scenes – quietly, without expectation of notice, applause, or rewards – and this year’s winner, Nancy Anderson, exemplifies these qualities perfectly.

She is a doer – quiet and reserved, a real get-it-done person. Charlie Parm​elee, who met Nancy when he was rec chair at the Lansing Oar and Paddle Club, talked to me about Nancy’s involvement in LOAPC and the many paddles they did together.

​Later, s​he became the rec chair for LOAPC, and her participation in the paddling community just took off. She was AVID, Charlie said. “They don’t call her ‘paddlemom’ for nothin’.”

Jay Hanks told me about a time LOAPC came close to dissolving with the break up of the rowers. Nancy called Jay – again, working behind the scenes – and together they were able to keep the club ​going.

Gary DeKock told me about the first time he met Nancy, at the second Hugh Heward Challenge.

“I did not know Nancy prior to that day and, in my ignorance, I assumed that she would soon fall behind our group. That was never the case. That morning it rained so hard that we couldn’t see where the air ended and the water began. John and I stopped under a bridge for some relief. Nancy stopped just to keep us company–she didn’t mind a little rain. Nancy knew the river well, and every time John and I took a shallow channel, we saw her up ahead in faster, deeper water.”

​Earlier today, Bud Hart used this expression

to describe Nancy: Still waters run deep. Think about that for a moment. How perfect it is​,​ ​both ​as a description of this year’s winner as a person, and the way she makes her contribution.

The Hugh happened because of a collaboration between Nancy Anderson and my father. I’d like him to tell you about that now.

Jim’s remarks, approximately:

When I had finished the hand-printed draft of the Hugh Heward story “Across Lower Michigan by Canoe 1790” on yellow-dog paper I showed it to Charlie Parmelee and he said “Give it to me and I’ll get it word-processed.” Eventually I learned that he had conned Nancy Anderson into doing the job. Some time later I went out to Nancy’s home in the boonies and consulted with her on the project. I acknowledge Nancy’s role in the “1790” introduction. Take a look.

I know Nancy has been a vital cog in the annual Quiet Water Symposium for all the years I was active. I believe she also was one of the original 5 paddlers in the first Hugh Heward Challenge ramrodded by Verlen. (I think they had to take refuge under the Waverly Road bridge because of a lightning storm). Those were the days when the Hugh was from Burchfield Park to the dead-end of Erdman Road. Nancy’s husband drove the traveling “Blue Loo” privy trailer at some of the early Hughs. I think I have seen Nancy at every Hugh Heward Challenge.

The Michigan Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Grant Program (VRSCCP) began in 1998. This program provides small grants to local units of government to help implement volunteer cleanup efforts of rivers, streams and creeks to improve the waters in Michigan. Funds are specifically to pay for the cleanup and removal of trash and debris from rivers and streams and along their banks. Grant funds awarded under the program can pay for such items as disposal costs, hand tools, supplies, refreshments, and other volunteer appreciation materials for volunteers. Local units of government are eligible to apply for and receive funding and may, in turn, work with nonprofit organizations and grassroots groups to conduct the actual cleanup efforts.

Funding is provided from citizen donations collected through fees associated with the sale of Michigan’s Water Quality Protection License Plates under Public Act 74 of 2000. By law, these funds are to be used for water quality protection in Michigan Great Lakes, inland lakes, rivers, and streams.

The VRSCCP is managed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and is administered under contract by the Great Lakes Commission (GLC). The DEQ works cooperatively with the GLC staff, providing overall direction for the program. The DEQ makes the final grant award decisions under the VRSCCP. Additionally, DEQ staff provides advice and assistance to volunteers on technical issues and considerations for the proposed projects.
NEW Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program Factsheet

Funding Process and Awarding of Grants

The grant application period for the 2015 grant cycle has now ended. Please check back in December for more information on the 2016 grant cycle. Future grant applicants may view the 2015 Grant Application Package as a resource to read more about the application process.

Annually (typically around mid-January), a Grant Application Package (GAP) is issued for the VRSCCP Grants. Information contained in the GAP is based on existing DEQ guidance, and indicates the total amount of funding available for a given fiscal year. Currently a total of $25,000 is available annually for cleanup grants.

Upon receipt of grant applications, the GLC, in conjunction with DEQ administrative staff, review and assess the merits of each proposed project. After funding decisions are made, the GLC requests a final workplan from each grantee. Upon approval of the workplan, the contract letter is sent to the grantee indicating the amount of the grant award and the terms of agreement between the grantee and the GLC for implementation of the project. The DEQ and the GLC reserve the right to remove parts of proposed projects which do not meet the program criteria as specified in the GAP, or which otherwise might impair water quality.

Cleanup projects can occur anytime after the award of the grant, but must be completed before the end of that year’s specific project completion deadline. Final reports are due within 30 days of project completion date. Communities are strongly encouraged to continue these volunteer projects in subsequent years. Many communities have expressed that their volunteers develop a clearer sense of what a watershed is, a connection to their watershed and a greater understanding of how their individual actions can help or cause harm to their watershed, and a sense of “pride of place and community.”

Students in this class learn the fundamentals of safely paddling moving water and whitewater rivers. Two Tuesday class sessions will be held in the classroom and the pool, focusing on safety skills, water reading, river paddling maneuvers, and trip planning. The third class will be an all-day trip to a Michigan river with light rapids suitable for practicing skills learned in the pool. Students taking this course should have taken Kayaking I &II or the equivalent. Graduates of this class will have the foundation needed to continue practicing their skills by joining local club trips!
6:30 – 9:30 pm. $110. Tuesdays April 28, May 5; river trip Saturday May 9.

Also, new dates added at Mason High School pool through Mason Community Education!

Kayaking I: Paddle Safe, Paddle Right

This three-session course will introduce you to kayaking in a safe and warm environment and help you develop basic skills and safety awareness. You will learn about boats and gear, what to do in case of a capsize, and how to maneuver your boat with basic strokes.

6:00 – 9:00 pm. $84. Thursdays May 7, 14, 21.

Kayaking II: Tipping, Staying Upright, & Rolling
This two evening course is for students with some kayaking experience who want to work on recovery skills (balance, edging, and braces) and learn how to roll. 6:00 – 9:00 pm. $58. Thursdays June 4, 11.

Registration for the East Lansing class is through this email or 517-333-9716.

Registration for the Mason HS classes is through Mason Community Education, by calling 244-6416 or online at https://mason.revtrak.net.

The pool is a terrific place to be introduced to one of the fastest-growing recreational activities in America, or to refine the skills you already have and even learn the kayak roll. These fast-paced, fun, and information-packed classes will help get you out on the water safely, whether you are interested in paddling Michigan lakes and rivers, or even whitewater! All LAINST instructors are experienced ACA-trained and certified instructors who love to welcome new paddlers to the Lansing area paddling community.

All equipment is provided. Students should be comfortable in the water and bring a towel and swimsuit. A synthetic top for warmth and water shoes are recommended. Each class starts with one hour “dry” classroom subjects, followed by one hour on-the-water instruction, and one hour free practice time. Preregistration required; email lainstkayaking@gmail.com or call 517-333-9716 to preregister or for more information.

Kayaking I: Paddle Safe, Paddle Right

This three-session course will introduce you to kayaking in a safe and warm environment and help you develop basic skills and safety awareness. You will learn about boats and gear, what to do in case of a capsize, and how to maneuver your boat with basic strokes.

This two evening course is for students with some kayaking experience who want to work on recovery skills (balance, edging, and braces) and learn how to roll.

6:30 – 9:30 pm. $55. Tuesdays April 14, 21.

River Kayaking

Students in this class learn the fundamentals of safely paddling moving water and whitewater rivers. Two Tuesday class sessions will be held in the classroom and the pool, focusing on safety skills, water reading, river paddling maneuvers, and trip planning. The third class will be an all-day trip to a Michigan river with light rapids suitable for practicing skills learned in the pool. Students taking this course should have taken Kayaking I &II or the equivalent. Graduates of this class will have the foundation needed to continue practicing their skills by joining local club trips!

The 20th Annual Quiet Water Symposium brings an exciting line-up of speakers to the 2015 show.
– Cliff Jacobson, winner of the American Canoe Association’s Legends of Paddling Award
– Kevin Callan, one of only four Patrons of Paddle Canada
– Mike Link and Kate Crowley, Going Full Circle – A 1,555 mile Walk around the World’s Largest Lake
– Jim DuFresne, author of over 20 guidebooks covering Michigan, Alaska and New Zealand
– Linda De Kock, Gary De Kock and Tim Muhich, Mississippi River paddlers, 2291 miles source to sea

To celebrate our 20th event, a new, autographed Northstar canoe will be presented by Ted Bell as one of our door prizes. Show admission for adults is $10.00, students (with ID) $5.00 and children under 12 are free.

The Quiet Water Symposium is brought to you by volunteers from the Quiet Water Society, a non-profit Lansing based organization. The Society uses proceeds from the event to support a grant program that helps to fund environmental and conservation efforts in the Great Lakes area. Visit us at http://www.quietwatersymposium.org/ to learn more.

MeetUp contact – Gary De Kock

We are also looking for LOAPC volunteers to staff many positions during this event. Room managers are in high demand and staffing the information booth is very important. People available to move around and others to oversee the exhibitor entrances are also needed. There will be more information posted on how to sign up for these. Jay Hanks, LOAPC President